Tournaments

Seamaster 2017 ITTF-Asian Championships

Vietnam upsets ranked order but leading teams in ascendancy

09 Apr 2017

Places in the second phase of the qualification stage on the agenda; a series of emphatic performances secured progress.

Iran, India, DPR Korea and Thailand asserted their authority on proceedings, as did Malaysia; however, there was one surprise, Vietnam overcame Kazakhstan, the fifth highest rated team on first day duty.

Sanil Shetty, a valued member of the Indian line-up in Wuxi (Photo: Zhao Chunsheng)

by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Kirill Gerassimenko, a young man who has made notable strides in recent years remained unbeaten but he was to emerge the only winner in Kazakhstan colours.

He overcame Nguyen Anh Tu (11-6, 7-11, 11-5, 10-12, 11-5) and Dinh Quang Linh (11-7, 9-11, 11-8, 11-6). Alas for Kazakhstan, Denis Zholudev was beaten in the opening match of the fixture by Ding Quang Linh (11-5, 11-9, 11-5), before in the vital concluding fifth contest, experiencing defeat at the hands of Nguyen Anh Tu. He was beaten in a tense full distance five games encounter (11-8, 11-13, 11-8, 8-11, 11-4).

The one further win for Vietnam was recorded by Doan Ba Tuan Ahh; in the third match of the fixture, he overcame Aidos Kenzhigulov (13-11, 11-5, 11-4).

A somewhat unexpected defeat but where the top two teams were concerned, there were no such mishaps. Iran and India underlined their determination to reserve a last eight place.

It was the very same for India in opposition to Kyrgystan; Sharath Kamal Achanta set his team on the road to victory. He beat Mukhammed Akhmedzhanov (11-3, 11-2, 11-5), before Harmeet Desai defeated Talgat Sagyndyov (11-7, 11-1, 11-2) and Sanil Shetty overcame Alisher Iakupaev (11-9, 11-5, 11-8) to end matters.

The quarter-final and semi-final matches, which will determine the qualifiers for the quarter-finals, will be played on Monday 10th April.